Dynamics of a quantum oscillator coupled with a three-level Lambda-type emitter

TL;DR

This paper explores the quantum dynamics of a coupled system involving a quantum oscillator and a three-level Lambda-type emitter, revealing conditions for lasing or cooling influenced by quantum interference and decay rates.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of lasing and cooling phenomena in a coupled quantum oscillator and three-level emitter system, considering various pumping schemes and decay asymmetries.

Findings

Identified parameter regimes for lasing and cooling.

Demonstrated quantum interference effects influence population transfer.

Proposed applications in nanomechanical resonators and terahertz photon sources.

Abstract

We investigate the quantum dynamics of a quantum oscillator coupled with the most upper state of a three-level $\Lambda-$ type system. The two transitions of the three-level emitter, possessing orthogonal dipole moments, are coherently pumped with a single or two electromagnetic field sources, respectively. We have found ranges for flexible lasing or cooling phenomena referring to the quantum oscillator's degrees of freedom. This is due to asymmetrical decay rates and quantum interference effects leading to population transfer among the relevant dressed states of the emitter's subsystem with which the quantum oscillator is coupled. As an appropriate system can be considered a nanomechanical resonator coupled with the most excited state of the three-level emitter fixed on it. Alternatively, if the upper state of the $\Lambda-$type system possesses a permanent dipole then it can couple with a cavity electromagnetic field mode which can be in the terahertz domain, for instance. In the latter case, we demonstrate an effective electromagnetic field source of terahertz photons.